19 Beach Street, Port Chalmers, Dunedin City

Port Chalmers

Dunedin City Museums

Dunedin's Historic port town has a number of attractions which justify a visit, including a small museum with a comprehensive maritime collection. The town's status in part relies on it being the departure port for New Zealand's first shipment of frozen beef, in 1882, a remarkable landmark in the nation's agricultural and economic heritage. There are several historic churches and a memorial to Captain Scott. Port Chalmers was the last southward port of call for both the Discovery and the Terra Nova. For much of his life artist Ralph Hotere lived in Port Chalmers.

An absolute classic portrayal of this interesting town can be seen at NZ On Screen in this 1993 Heartland Documentary

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In March 1848, some hardy Scots aboard the John Wickliffe arrived in the tranquil Port Chalmers on their way to establishing “the Edinburgh of the South”: the city of Dunedin. Today Port Chalmers is a quiet, unassuming village, just a 10- minute harbour-side drive from Dunedin. A haven for artists and bohemians, the village has a relaxed lifestyle that’s attracted the likes of painter Ralph Hotere and poet Cilla McQueen.

A short drive up Flagstaff Hill gives visitors a panoramic view of Port Chalmers and its surroundings; as far out as Aramoana spit and across to Taiaroa Heads, where the albatross colony can be found. Flagstaff also provides a prime vantage point for views of Port Otago.

Here you’ll see the massive containers used to export meat, dairy, fish, fruit, and timber products to the world. The port had its most significant moment in 1882 when the ship Dunedin carried the first cargo of frozen meat from New Zealand to London. The frozen mutton and lamb carcasses arrived in London three months later in perfect condition, signalling the opening up of a major economic avenue for the country. The historian Michael King wrote: “For New Zealand, the world was suddenly a less frightening place than it had been”.

Port Chalmers was also a stop-off point for Antarctic explorers Robert Scott, Ernest Shackleton, and Richard Byrd. Scott’s expedition, which sailed for Antarctica from Port Chalmers in 1910, is honoured by the Scott memorial on Purakanui Road.

As in Dunedin, historic buildings abound in the village. Port Chalmers bluestone was an important material for such buildings, and is evident in the old churches and hotels. The area’s maritime history is documented at the Port Chalmers Museum. Here visitors can see sailing and shipping artefacts, and enjoy the settlers’ collection, which celebrates the area’s pioneers. The museum is housed in the original stone post office building on Beach Street, built in 1877.

Perhaps Port Chalmers’ best feature, however, is its location. As well as being close to the city, the village is a short drive from beautiful beaches at Aramoana, Purakanui, and Long Beach. These beaches offer walking tracks, good surf, and an impressive array of wildlife, including seals and yellow-eyed penguins.

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